Partying Paihia eats out for free | Northland News | Local News in Northland

Anyone who still believes there's no such thing as a free lunch missed Paihia's street party .

Locals, backpackers and random passers-by were encouraged to tuck into a giant potluck lunch stretching the length of Williams Rd, tying in with Rugby World Cup fever and a "best-dressed street" challenge issued by rivals in Russell across the water.

About 300 people turned out for Sunday's Welcome to the World-themed event, locals decorating themselves and their food in the colours of their adopted rugby nations. It followed a challenge by Riki Kinnaird, co-owner of the Duke of Marlborough and head of the Russell Business Association, in a bid to get the towns working together.

Russell's efforts were judged the previous weekend, during the town's re-instated Oyster Festival, and Paihia's on Sunday.

The three-strong judging panel - Deputy Mayor Ann Court and a representative each from Russell and Paihia - praised both towns' spirit, but named Paihia the winner. Ms Court said the "deal breaker" was the embracing aspect of the Welcome to the World theme, with anyone and everyone invited to join in.

She also liked the way Paihia had not applied for an official street closure, simply setting up on the road and allowing cars through if they dared.

Russell's window decorations and attention to detail were outstanding, as was the way the community had rallied when its decorations were vandalised before the competition.

Sarah Greener, of Business Paihia, said Paihia School children had made signs showing the flags and greetings of all Rugby World Cup nations, and welcomed the judges at the town's new street mosaic. All involved had been instructed to invite their neighbours and anyone staying at the town's backpacker lodges.

"It was fun, and we got to know people we didn't know before. Paihia's becoming a great place to live."

Ms Greener said the past six months had seen a huge change in Paihia, with the real watershed last month's workshop by "urban philosopher" David Entwicht about reclaiming public spaces and taking responsibility rather than complaining.

Sunday also saw the launch of Paihia's new German-made beach cleaner, bought by community trust Focus Paihia with a grant from Pub Charities. The group hopes the machine will prevent a repeat of last year's problems when Bay of Islands beaches were buried in storm debris, but have to wait for a Northland Regional Council consent before it can be used.

Business Paihia member and Salt Air owner Grant Harnish said Sunday's event was "a fantastic whole-town get-together".

"We helicoptered the judges in, so there was a bit of bribery involved, and we took them for a ride in our new beach cleaner," he said.